Under the Island Reviews
Under the Island nails the exploration and puzzle solving side of the Zelda formula, but lacks the narrative hooks or tight combat encounters players might expect.
Ultimately, Under the Island is a fantastic game that suffers from some frustrating controls and enemy design. However, Under the Sea impresses with its creative design, colorful characters, and challenging boss fights and puzzles. When I look past the controls and rank-and-file enemies, what’s left is a spectacular game that just needs a bit of tweaking.
undefined.Under The Island didn't take long to sink its charming teeth into me as I had been itching for something a little lighter, both in tone and runtime, after making my way through a handful of long RPGs. Along Nia's adventure, you end up encountering a variety of different gameplay types, including stealth sequences and arcade-style minigames, and so what has become a well-trod genre does feel quite fresh. If you're in the mood for a whimsical Zelda-like with some unique items and boss fights, the dozen-plus hours you can spend on Seashell Island are absolutely worth your time.
With captivating pixel art and a world full of paths and secrets, Under the Island succeeds in building a great sense of exploration and manages to give the player the freedom to discover things on their own without leaving them lost, providing plenty of help for those who need it. It's a competent, charismatic, and fun Zelda-like, but it may disappoint those looking for exciting combat.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Under the Island is presented as a cozy version of that style of action adventure game, which doesn’t really result in the sort of game that comes to mind as a cozy game. It’s more like a Zelda game that isn’t super aggressive to challenge your skills and has a lot of variety to its dungeons to subvert your expectations.
Under The Island is the best game I have played this year so far. That is not something I say lightly. It captures the magic of classic 2D Zelda adventures, especially The Minish Cap, while adding its own quirky humor and heartfelt storytelling. The tools are inventive. The puzzles are clever. The world is full of secrets that reward curiosity. It is rare for a game to maintain that sense of joy from start to finish. There is something special here.
Under the Island wears its 2D Zelda inspiration proudly on its sleeve and pulls it off exceptionally well, with a great game and stunning modern pixel graphics that feel like Saturday-morning cartoons from the '90s.
Just like with my kids' elaborate games and worlds they think up, it may not all make sense, but it didn't stop me from having a great time. Under the Island is a fun and often wacky adventure game that wears its heart on its sleeve and does right by its inspirations. It's a game that begs to be explored from top to bottom, with the intent of giving the player something to find or do at nearly every turn. I loved my time on Seashell Island, and I think that plenty of other people will too.
Under the Island was a super fun story to play through, and I wish anyone who sees this and is looking to dive into a 90s nostalgia trip through a new and vibrant world gives this title a chance!